Summer Reading 2017

Because we love reading, our summer reading project supports life-long reading. Read novels over the summer, and complete and turn in the VMS Summer Reading project to your ELA (English Language Arts) teacher on the first day of school in August.

Why?For one thing, you get to attend an ice cream social at VMS! In addition, your work will be your first reading grade of the quarter, Fall 2017.

AND IF YOUR TRAILER IS DYNAMITE, IT WILL BE FEATURED ON OUR VMTV NEWS!

DIRECTIONS:Create a two-minute video “book trailer” for one of the novels you read this summer to advertise the book and capture the interest of other students... BUT, do not include any spoilers!

Be sure to include the title, author, genre, major events (but not the ending), and major characters.Some of the questions below can give you an idea of other elements to include in your amazing trailer.

HOW WILL I GET CREDIT FOR MY PROJECT?You will need a flash drive with your last name and first initial on it. Save your trailer to the flash drive using the following format: Your Last Name, the grade level you are entering at VMS, SRP 17 (this stands for Summer Reading Project 2017). Example: “Johnson 7th Grade SRP 17”. Your flash drive will be returned to you after your ELA teacher has graded your trailer.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY?If you do not have access to technology and cannot do the project, answer any 5 questions listed below. Write legibly and in complete sentences. Make sure your name is on your paper before you turn it in to your teacher on the first day of school. Responses must be thoughtful, and each response must be at least 50 words in length. In addition, responses must be neatly written or typed. You are answering questions as “proof” that you read the book. Please include specific examples and even page numbers (if appropriate). If your answer is not specific, you will not get credit for the answer.

WHAT BOOKS SHOULD I READ? Suggested reading lists and websites that will guide you are linked HERE, or you can choose your own age/grade appropriate book! Just make sure that you are reading over the summer!

Choose 5 of the questions below and answer them in complete sentences. Use details from the story to support your thinking. Each answer must be at least 50 words.

1. Overall—how did you experience the book while reading it? Were you immediately drawn into the story—or did it take a while? Did the book intrigue, amuse, disturb, alienate, or irritate you? Use specific examples from the book.

2. Which characters do you admire or dislike? What are their primary characteristics? Describe at least two characters and use examples from the book.

3. Who in this book would you most like to meet? What would you ask—or say? Why do you want to meet this character?

4. If you could insert yourself as a character in the book, what role would you play? Giveexamples of what you would do, say, think or feel.

5. What is the main conflict, or problem in this novel? How do the characters solve this conflict? Describe the obstacles that get in the way of the solution. Give specific examples from the novel to support your answer.​6. If you could rewrite the ending, would you? In other words, was the ending satisfying? What would you do?